Mesothelioma Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy is a cancer treatment that utilizes high-energy x-rays to destroy cancer cells. It is normally administered to a patient whose health is too weak to withstand surgery. Radiation therapy may be prescribed as the sole treatment for a mesothelioma patient or may be combined with other therapies, such as chemotherapy.

Overall, mesothelioma has showed resistance to radiation therapy, and may even cause damage to the lungs if a large portion of the lung undergoes radiation treatment. Some hospitals and cancer treatment centers, however, have indicated that radiation therapy may show beneficial in treating mesothelioma that is detected, diagnosed, and treated very early on in the development of the disease. Otherwise, radiation therapy is typically prescribed as a palliative therapy to ease symptoms of mesothelioma, such as shortness of breath, pain, bleeding, and difficulty swallowing.

Types of Radiation Therapy Available for Mesothelioma Patients

There are two different procedures for administering radiation therapy and each is conducted for a specific purpose:

External beam radiation therapy uses beams of radiation from a machine similar to an x-ray machine, which directs them at the area of the patient's body that is afflicted with mesothelioma. This form of radiation therapy is generally carried out on a daily basis for three to five weeks.

Unlike external beam radiation therapy, brachytherapy is a type of radiation therapy performed by injecting radioactive material directly into the body at the site of the mesothelioma. It is, however, seldom used to treat mesothelioma. This procedure if often used after a buildup of fluid is removed from the abdominal or chest cavity, as it has been successful in a significant number of cases in preventing more fluid from emerging in the area.

Additionally, if surgery is performed to remove malignant mesothelial tumors, post-operative radiation therapy may be conducted in order to destroy any small deposits of the cancer that could not be seen or removed during the operation.

Radiation Therapy Side Effects in Mesothelioma Patients

Mesothelioma patients who undergo radiation therapy are likely to experience the temporary side effects associated with the treatment, such as fatigue and a skin condition similar to sunburn.

Patients suffering from peritoneal mesothelioma who undergo abdominal radiation therapy may experience more discomforting side effects, such as nausea, diarrhea and vomiting.